FIFPro World XI 2007 shortlist

This is the award for a World XI, chosen by players themselves. The award will be announced on 5th October. Statistics on this year's candidates:

- 55 in total.
- 20 from the Premiership, 17 from La Liga, 15 from Serie A, 2 from the Bundesliga, and 1 each from the French Ligue 1 and the Argentinian Primera Division.
- AC Milan has 9 nominations, Man. Utd 8, Barcelona/Chelsea/Madrid have 7 each, Valencia/Liverpool/Inter/Roma/Bayern have 2, and 1 from a host of other clubs.
- Italy has 11 players in the list, England has 9, Brazil has 7, Spain 6, Argentina 4, Holland 3, and a bunch of countries with 1 each.


The 55 player shortlist in full is: (Home country/ Club 2006/2007)

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy/ Juventus), Iker Casillas (Spain/ Real Madrid), Petr Cech (Czech Republic/ Chelsea), Nelson de Jesus Silva ‘Dida’ (Brazil/ AC Milan), Edwin van der Sar (Holland/ Manchester United)

Defenders: Éric Abidal (France/ Olympique Lyon), Daniel Alves (Brazil/ Sevilla), Roberto Ayala (Argentina/ Valencia), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy/ Real Madrid), Roberto Carlos da Silva (Brazil/ Real Madrid), Jamie Carragher (England/ Liverpool), Ricardo Carvalho (Portugal/ Chelsea), Cristian Chivu (Romania/ AS Roma), Ashley Cole (England/ Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (England/ Manchester United), Philipp Lahm (Germany/ Bayern Munich), Ferreira Lucio (Brazil/Bayern Munich), Paolo Maldini (Italy/ AC Milan), Marco Materazzi (Italy/ Inter), Alessandro Nesta (Italy/ AC Milan), Carles Puyol (Spain/ Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain/ Real Madrid), John Terry (England/ Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Serbia/ Manchester United), Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy/ Barcelona).

Midfielders: David Beckham (England/ Real Madrid), Anderson Deco (Portugal/ Barcelona), Mickaël Essien (Ghana/ Chelsea), Gennaro Gattuso (Italy/ AC Milan), Steven Gerrard (England/ Liverpool), Andrès Iniesta (Spain/ Barcelona), Ricardo Kaká (Brazil/ AC Milan), Frank Lampard (England/ Chelsea), Claude Makélélé (France/ Chelsea), Andrea Pirlo (Italy/ AC Milan), Juan Roman Riquelme (Argentina/ Villareal/Boca Juniors), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/ Manchester United), Paul Scholes (England/ Manchester United), Clarence Seedorf (Holland/ AC Milan), Xavi (Spain/ Barcelona).

Forwards: Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria/ Tottenham Hotspur), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast/ Chelsea), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon/ Barcelona), Thierry Henry (France/ Arsenal), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden/ Inter), Filippo Inzaghi (Italy/ AC Milan), Lionel Messi (Argentina/ Barcelona), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Holland/ Real Madrid), Ronaldinho (Brazil/ Barcelona), Ronaldo (Brazil/ Real Madrid/ AC Milan), Wayne Rooney (England/ Manchester United), Carlos Tévez (Argentina/ West Ham United), Luca Toni (Italy/ Fiorentina), Francesco Totti (Italy/ AS Roma), David Villa (Spain/ Valencia)


Off you go then - if you were voting, what would your World XI be? Remember, this is for performances in the 2006-2007 season.

My team/thoughts (based purely on form last season):

GK: Cech was out for a while, Dida was dodgy as always, and Buffon was in Serie B - even though he played well, that puts him at a disadvantage. Van Der Sar also made a few mistakes, so even though it wasn't his best season, I still have to go with Casillas, though it should be someone like Gomes (PSV) or Palop (Sevilla).


Defenders: When considering form only, almost all those names automatically cross themselves out. So it was a very easy choice in the end, tbh: Dani Alves at right back, Lahm at left back, and a central partnership of Materazzi and Vidic. Ferdinand could get in but I think Vidic was the better of the two. And another consideration was Nesta, though he was injured often, wasn't he?


Midfield: Here's where it gets interesting. There are 2 automatic selections in Ronaldo and Kaka, but that leaves 2 spots open (or 1, depending on my eventual formation). Essien, Seedorf, and Pirlo all will get into some people's teams, but I'm going with Gattuso. Finally, even though he played only half a season, he was just immense (and not many others will pick him), Riquelme.


Forwards: Up front, Totti is the automatic selection for me. Then comes a choice between Messi, Drogba, Zlatan, van Nistelrooy, and Tevez...Van Nistelrooy was the Pichichi in Spain, while Zlatan and Drogba were both key players for their teams.
Tevez only got going in the 2nd half of the season, so I'll leave him out. Now I don't like Zlatan's attitude, Drogba's playing style, and van Nistelrooy's team. So with a bit of bias and ignoring his 2 month injury for the unbelievable form (and games he won for us) when he played, I'll pick Messi


So my final team is:

----------Casillas-------------
Alves-Materazzi-Vidic-Lahm
-----------Gattuso------------
Ronaldo---Kaka---Riquelme
-------Messi----Totti----------

Subs bench: Buffon, Ferdinand, Carragher, Seedorf, Essien, Drogba, van Nistelrooy

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy/ Juventus)

Defenders: Éric Abidal (France/ Olympique Lyon), Daniel Alves (Brazil/ Sevilla), Ricardo Carvalho (Portugal/ Chelsea), Cristian Chivu,

Midfielders: David Beckham (England/ Real Madrid), Mickaël Essien (Ghana/ Chelsea), Gennaro Gattuso (Italy/ AC Milan), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/ Manchester United), Clarence Seedorf (Holland/ AC Milan)

Forwards: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden/ Inter), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Holland/ Real Madrid)

* Ronaldo in midfield ahead of Beckham because of his playing for Man U, if we also include his disgraceful divingperforming at the WC he's out and I slot in Beckham for his leading by example at Real : thet really impressed me

Why Diego, VDV, Alex & Gomes didn't make this list is a mystery to me btw.

can't be arsed tpo go through them all but FFS how is Henry in there we was injured for much of the year

GK - Cassilas

It sickens me VDS and dida get in there ahead of reina

Alves........Nesta.....Carra.....Evra ??????? (where is he)

................Gattuso..Iniesta
.......Messi...........Kaka............Ronaldo FC

.........................Ruud

It's hard to base it on last year, when it's clear fifpro clearly havent. Where is Evra in this 500 man list? why is dida and buffon there?

Anyway ---- Casillas

--Alves -- Rio-- Vidic -- Abidol


--Beckham-- Kaka-- Totti -- Ronaldo

-- --- Drogba --- -- ibrahimovic

-----------------Cech
Daniel Alves - Carragher - John Terry - Abidal
Kaká - Gattuso - Iniesta - C.Ronaldo
----------Drogba - Totti

L r d wrote:It's hard to base it on last year, when it's clear fifpro clearly havent. Where is Evra in this 500 man list? why is dida and buffon there?

Anyway ---- Casillas

--Ramos -- Rio-- Vidic -- Abidol


--Beckham-- Kaka-- Totti -- Ronaldo

-- --- Drogba --- -- ibrahimovic

Just a tad bias putting both in lrd

------------- Casillas
Alves -- Nesta -- Carvalho -- Evra
Ronaldo -- Essien -- Kaka -- Messi
---------- Drogba -- Totti

Subs: Reina, Vidic, Lahm, Gattuso, Scholes, Seedorf, Ruud.

How the hell did Dida, Ashley Cole and Theirry Henry make that squad?!

The first two were pretty average and the latter was injured!

Anyway, me squad:

--------------Casillas----------------

Alves----Vidic----Carvalho---Abidal

Messi----Essien-----Kaka---Ronaldo

----------Drogba----Totti------------

You virtually just copied mine Tweedle.

Parks lives wrote:You virtually just copied mine Tweedle.

I didn't even look at yours. Its not difficult really. I'm shocked that so many people haven't included Messi though! THIS year he's been pretty phenomenal.

Kaka, Ronaldo, Alves, Cassillas and Totti are probably dead certs for everyone.

Tweedle wrote:

I didn't even look at yours. Its not difficult really. I'm shocked that so many people haven't included Messi though! THIS year he's been pretty phenomenal.

That's because it's supposed to be a 2006/2007 list, Messi was injured most of the time remember ?

If Messi gets in, then so should RVP.

COTR wrote:

L r d wrote:It's hard to base it on last year, when it's clear fifpro clearly havent. Where is Evra in this 500 man list? why is dida and buffon there?

Anyway ---- Casillas

--Ramos -- Rio-- Vidic -- Abidol


--Beckham-- Kaka-- Totti -- Ronaldo

-- --- Drogba --- -- ibrahimovic

Just a tad bias putting both in lrd

huh is it really that funny? listen people put talentless hoofer and terry in there teams, and you laugh at vidic and rio?
Terry was out for half the season, and he wasnt even great when he played. talentless hoofer was not even Liverpool's best defender.

Rio is world class, and was world class last year, and it's clear he is an amazing defender, one of the best in the world. Actually he is the 2nd best defender in the world, only one person better than him, and that is Vidic
ps well done on picking Nesta who missed 5 months of the season

----------Casillas
Alves -- Ramos-- Carvalho -- Lahm
Ronaldo -- Essien -- Kaka -- Iniesta
-------- Ruud -- Totti

if kas can be biased with messi, i can do the same with ramos

Iker Casillas (Spain/ Real Madrid)
Daniel Alves (Brazil/ Sevilla)
Ricardo Carvalho (Portugal/ Chelsea)
Nemanja Vidic (Serbia/ Manchester United)
Éric Abidal (France/ Olympique Lyon)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/ Manchester United)
Gennaro Gattuso (Italy/ AC Milan)
Mickaël Essien (Ghana/ Chelsea)
Lionel Messi (Argentina/ Barcelona)
Ricardo Kaká (Brazil/ AC Milan)
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast/ Chelsea)

----------------Casillas
Alves--Carvalho--Vidic--Abidal
----------Gattuso--Essien
------------Kaka--Messi
---------------Drogba

Alternative: Swap Gattuso for Lampard

The final XI voted for by the players is:

------Buffon--------

Puyol--Nesta--Cannavaro--Terry

Ronaldo---Kaka---Gerrard

Messi--Drogba--Ronaldinho


I only had Kaka, Messi and Ronaldo right

Cannavaro?

And Buffon as well! he played the whole season in Serie B!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gerrard wasn't nowhere near Scholes or Essien last season in England.

its a joke how can a player in spain really concentrate on whats happening in england or italy for example with any real conviction. its a popularity contest

The-Frank-Tavern wrote:its a joke how can a player in spain really concentrate on whats happening in england or italy for example with any real conviction. its a popularity contest

That's why Messi made the squad

kas wrote:The final XI voted for by the players is:

------Buffon--------

Puyol--Nesta--Cannavaro--Terry

Ronaldo---Kaka---Gerrard

Messi--Drogba--Ronaldinho


I only had Kaka, Messi and Ronaldo right

I would have Casillas in goal, Alves instead of Puyol, Vidic instead of Cannavaro, Carvahlo instead of Terry, Essien instead of Gerrard and Totti or RVN instead of Ronaldinho.

rez in other words its a sh¡t selection?

Rez wrote:

kas wrote:The final XI voted for by the players is:

------Buffon--------

Puyol--Nesta--Cannavaro--Terry

Ronaldo---Kaka---Gerrard

Messi--Drogba--Ronaldinho


I only had Kaka, Messi and Ronaldo right

I would have Casillas in goal, Alves instead of Puyol, Vidic instead of Cannavaro, Carvahlo instead of Terry, Essien instead of Gerrard and Totti or RVN instead of Ronaldinho.

4 centrebacks at the back. Priceless. Says a lot about the importance of fullbacks....

When you think about it, its not overly suprising these are the players who mostly excelled in European competition last season, seeing as its the only real way most of the players from other leagues see them.

Gerrard is in there because Liverpool got to the final. Rival players no doubt appreciate his importance to the team in terms of leadership and drive. Same can be said for everyone of the back 4- all important leaders. And infact the forwards too- Cronaldo, Kaka and Messi are now integral fulcrums of their team, as is Drogbreath.

Its a team of leaders.

Amazed Buffon got in there playing in Serie B. 100 percent based on reputation and performances for Italy. Fair play loyalty wise to Juve, however how Casillas hasnt won it is a bit of an odd one. He was immense again last season for Madrid

kas wrote:The final XI voted for by the players is:

------Buffon--------

Puyol--Nesta--Cannavaro--Terry

Ronaldo---Kaka---Gerrard

Messi--Drogba--Ronaldinho


I only had Kaka, Messi and Ronaldo right

What do you mean by right? I put the team i thought was best, not the one they would pick. Basically just the same old names, i doubt many paid to much attention to it. No Totti? Terry ahead of Evra? Cannavaro? no Carvalho or Vidic? all a bit silly and pointless really.

The-Frank-Tavern wrote:rez in other words its a sh¡t selection?

It's beyond $h!t, Frank.

Some of the selections are just bizarre

TRWP wrote:Amazed Buffon got in there playing in Serie B. 100 percent based on reputation and performances for Italy. Fair play loyalty wise to Juve, however how Casillas hasnt won it is a bit of an odd one. He was immense again last season for Madrid

Like you said, it's popularity, plus the fact Buffon didn't make the 2 previous teams (they couldn't possibly have him missing 3 in a row). With Cech out for nearly 4 months of the year Buffon was always going to win it.

Apart from the XI, there was also an award for the FIFPro WPOTY, and that was Kaka.

Milan’s Kaká commented: “I am humbled to receive such an honour. To follow my good friend and such a great player as Ronaldinho makes this a very special award for me.

To be recognized by my fellow professional players worldwide coming from over 50,000 players is amazing. I would like to thank my teammates and coaches and everyone involved at Milan and the national team, as well as my family and friends for their support. Thank you also to FIFPro for this award and for your work in protecting the interests and welfare of players around the world.

‘My aim is to keep on listening and learning from others and to keep improving as a player and as a person, it is a privilege to be a professional footballer and it is our duty to work hard to be the best we can be for our team mates, supporters, club and country and to earn the respect of fellow men.’

kas wrote:The final XI voted for by the players is:

------Buffon--------

Puyol--Nesta--Cannavaro--Terry

Ronaldo---Kaka---Gerrard

Messi--Drogba--Ronaldinho


:

4 centre halves & no defensive midfielder, no wonder people think footballers are thick.